The Woods

The Woods marks the third instalment of acclaimed musician and composer Hamish Napier's ode to his native Scottish Highlands. Following on from 2016's The River and 2018's The Railway, this new release is the centrepiece of his proposed pentalogy inspired by his homeland. Featuring Napier on flute and harmonium, Ross Ainslie on pipes, Steve Byrnes on guitar and drums, Jarlath Henderson on uilleann pipes, James Lindsay on double bass and Innes Watson on viola and fiddle, it is a real collection of musicianship.

Located at the northern end of the Cairngorm mountains, Granton-on-Spey is Napier's home. Surrounded by some impressive ancient woodland makes it a natural subject for Napier's equally impressive release. Melding folk dance tunes with some contemporary arrangements and atmospheric field recordings, The Woods is mainly instrumental, except closer ‘The Highest Willows’, which consists of a pibroch, or lament, with vocals by Calum MacCrimmon. With 21 tracks consisting of 28 new tunes, it's hard to pick favourites, but opener ‘The Pioneer’ is a rare introduction while ‘The Tree of Magic/Venus of the Wood’ is a sprightly jig celebrating the rowan and the ash. A beautifully constructed, evocative and distinctive album, The Woods is a splendid and rare treat.